Final Week On Tuesday, there were many people working on the 541 tender tank with grinders to grind back the countersunk rivets retaining the door closing plates and the lamp brackets and steps on the back panel and to dress the welds between the front and rear side panels. Meanwhile, work continued on the ‘toilet seat’ part of the crinoline … Read More
Week Four During this week, a fair amount of progress has been made on constructing the crinolines for 4253’s boiler which is a hugely time-consuming task with numerous parts having to be cut, shaped, bent, welded and drilled. Band numbers 1 and 2 (starting at the smokebox end) are pretty well finished and trial fitted along with the top longitudinal … Read More
Week Three On Tuesday, we continued with the drilling of the smokebox where, given the rarity of a very sunny day, the temperatureinside it reached 42º before the guys called it a day. The cleaning up of both the superheater header and the cylinder block saddle was completed after which they received a coat of heat-resistant paint. A blanking plate was … Read More
Week Four This week, 4253’s boiler was filled with water for the first time in 60 years for its initial hydraulic test which took the pressure to 260 psi. There were a few leaks that need addressing but no surprises there given the amount of repair work that’s been undertaken. As it’s return it now imminent, the superheater header has been … Read More
Week Four A lot of prep work carried out on the 541 tender this week with areas that will be welded being measured, marked out and then ground back to remove the mill scale. One of the thick bars to which the door shut plate is attached was too corroded for further use so a new one was cut, drilled … Read More
Final Week Four working days this week. On Tuesday, various parts that will fit to the boiler were taken out of storage including the regulator, its rod, the fire hole door runners and fire grate holding brackets all of which were cleaned up, gaskets made and parts given a coat of heat resistant paint where necessary. On the 541 tender tank … Read More
Final Week We had intended replacing 4253’s brake cylinder this week but, despite being dispatched Wednesday via 24 hr overnight delivery, we still haven’t seen it. As a result, it was all hands onto our new project – building a replacement tender tank for Q Class loco no: 541. The old one was been delivered and is currently being stripped of all … Read More
